Hi all,

Which headers should I get?

I know STRICTLY from reading:

4-2-1 gives better "balance" between low-end torque and high-end power.

4-1 yields higher power at the expense of some lost low-end torque.

I need your opinions to validate/refute the above assumptions.

I do have the Impreza Magazine that reviews various headers. Unfortunately I can't read Japanese. I've shortlisted Cusco if I were to go 4-2-1, Quest for 4-1 (mainly due to cost and availability).

Now, forgive me for saying this but I know among North American readers Cusco will definitely win the "popularity contest". Hence I'd appreciate it if opinions posted are NOT based just on reading (like what I MYSELF HAVE DONE in the above).

Basically I want the opinions of real-world users who have actually upgraded their headers, or tuners who have worked on them, or dyno attendees etc.

Thanks everyone!

 

I ordered a set of 4-2-1 headers from Ion performance in Canada, my logic being that this was the best balance as I did not want to loose booom end torque. They looked at my spec and advised that 4-1 were likely to be better suited to my application and in the end I went along with that.
All I can say is I am glad I took the advice. Lag was marginally more noticable but the car was far stronger from between 35 and 40 all the way to the red line at 8000rpm.
The headers and up-pipe came with ceramic coating inside and out.
Look here.www.tyneteesscoobies.com and click on owners cars.
So happy with result that I went on to buy one of their turbos.

 

Thanks for all the reply so far.

I should've mentioned my priority: to get rid as much as turbo lag in the below-3500RPM region. I'm think my car pulls just fine after 3.5-4.0k RPM, but before that it's rather lacking (as we all know).

As far as tuning is concerned, unfortunately there aren't any reputable tuners where I live; will have to hope for an ECUTEK remap but that's not likely to happen soon. (I mean, it IS available, but going to wait for more STi's to be remapped to sort out the bugs).

So I take it so far what I've assumed all along is true:
4-2-1 a balanced design
4-1 loses bottom end compared to STOCK <- is this right?

BTW what is Maxim's header design?

 

N I C E !!!

I tend to lean towards nqwan's observation now.

http://www.steve.ukmail.org/car/

The person above also installed a 4-1 header, and he too enjoyed good increase of torque across the range.

BTW he's the brainchild of ECUTEK.

 

I have the Invidia 4-2-1. The low end torge is increased a lot and power is improved over the mid end and high end as well. They claim a increase of torge of 50 lb/ft w/ their down pipe and exhaust. (the one is in the latest turbo mag. ex test by the name of skunk works, the one with the highest torgue) I do have their down pipe but HKS hiper exhaust, mayby it's the combo that gave the good low mid and high end??

Gary T

 

oooops~

I mean HKS Hyper exhaust~

 

Hmm.. that is strange.

I was always under the impression that low-end loss after header upgrade is in the MINORITY; most report better low-end (or perhaps more correctly, faster spool up).

My uppipe's already catless, thanks

Honestly, I think my car's quite noticably preppier than stock with zero cat in the system, but I still want to get rid as much as lag as possible.